Want to avoid the drab chocolate n' flowers Valentine's Day gift-giving routine? Consider the Love Pot, a non-electric humidifier/diffuser benefitting a great cause.

Unless you simply adore heart-shaped boxes of Russell Stover chocolates and artificial-looking deli roses, an element of surprise is always a welcome addition to an otherwise humdrum Valentine’s Day. And although the très romantique holiday is a couple of weeks off, it’s never too early to start thinking about tracking down a gift that shows both your special paramour and Mother Nature that you care.

Check out the Love Pot designed for Sang-min Bae for Korea's Nanum, a non-electric, heart-shaped humidifying doodad made from laminated wool felt that doubles as an aroma diffuser. A perfect object for rooms that become bone dry during the winter months, a Love Pot placed atop a radiator dispenses much needed, bacteria-free moisture into the air without consuming any electricity. The felt "tissue ball," once stuck in its pot, absorbs water quickly and effectively and is easy to launder. Plus, it looks pretty nifty.

Better yet, all proceeds from the sales of the $30 Love Pot are directed to the Nanum (Sharing) Project, a charity — and, oddly an offshoot of Korean refinery GS Caltex — dedicated to providing educational resources to children from low-income households. An item made from eco-friendly materials that serves a decorative purpose, smells good, saves you money on electric bills, keeps you comfortably moist at home, and benefits a worthy cause — you can’t get much better than this. Now if I could just figure out how to purchase it outside of Korea …